SEC: 11 Bowl Games?

The SEC could have as many as eleven teams qualify for its eight postseason positions. Ole Miss is the only team that has been eliminated from postseason contention and there are many questions concerning what will happen with the remaining eleven.

Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom is in a position that is certainly a surprise-lobbying for a bowl bid. Most recently Croom visited with the executive director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Steve Ehrhart. Earhart stated that the Bulldogs were, "a very strong candidate."

The SEC bowl situation is uncertain at best right now. Aside from a guaranteed spot in the BCS for the winner of the league's title game, the conference also has direct bowl tie-ins with seven other bowls. The seven certainties are the Capitol One, Chick-Fil-A, Cotton, Independence, Liberty, Music City, and Outback bowls.

There is also a good chance that the SEC could recieve two BCS bids if LSU earns a spot to play in the national title game. If that situation were to occur Auburn, Florida, or Georgia would be excellent candidates for the Sugar Bowl.

But that still leaves more bowl-eligible teams than slots.

The Poinsetta bowl is the only bowl that has a designated at-large berth, the major stipulation being that a six-win team cannot be picked over a seven-win team for the slot.

The SEC could also snag another game in Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl, likely facing against Air Force. The other slot in that game belongs to the Pac-10. However that league is unlikely to fulfill its bowl obligations, meaning that officials will be able to select another bowl-elligible team from another conference.

If the SEC snags a spot in the national title game along with securing a place in the Armed Forces and Poinsetta Bowls there will be eleven very-worthy teams from the SEC playing in bowl games.

Mark Womack, the SEC associate commissioner, has sworn that the league will, "do everything in our power to try and find a bowl opportunity for all those that meet the eligibility requirements."